This is a day after residents of Simile, near Sabie in Lydenburg, protested, demanding that the Thaba Chweu council be dissolved, that the contract between the municipality and a company called Shining Stars, contracted to collect debt, be terminated and all their outstanding debts be scrapped.

But unlike in Simile, where a security guard was beaten to death and police forced to use rubber bullets to disperse the protesting crowd, KaBokweni protests were not marred by destruction of property.

Local police spokesperson Inspector Muzi Ngomane said they had arrested four protesters over public violence.

Ngomane said there were no serious incidents but the police and other law enforcement agencies would work throughout the night to ensure that the situation is under control.

The arrested people were expected to appear in the KaBokweni magistrate's court soon.